We are currently recruiting for participants for Phase 2 of the study and are looking for medically discharged UK veterans who specifically participate in team sport (adapted or otherwise) or have done so since their d/c to participate in one online focus group, lasting a maximum of 1 ½ hours (may be shorter). Dates and times to be arranged around the availability of the participants, data collection finishes in December 2023.

For the focus groups we will have a maximum of 4 veterans per group, but we have ethics for individual interviews if preferred (these will also be online). During the focus group our lead researcher will ask  about what team sport means to participants and how it might be different from other forms of exercise for military veterans. There are only 2 criteria needed to participate in this part of the research

  1. Participants must have been medically d/c (for any reason at all so long as it was a medical d/c
  2. Participants must participate in team sport or have done so since their d/c

Focus groups are online so can be arranged at a time to suit, we can do days/evenings/ weekends. We have full ethics approval from London South Bank University for focus groups or an individual online interview if needed.

We are hoping this research project (both Phases) will identify the type of physical exercise which has the most beneficial effect on the health and well-being of medical d/c veterans so that there is a body of evidence with the aim of making an important difference. We would like the veteran voice to be heard (as many as possible adds weight to the research). It doesn’t matter what team sport you participate in; it doesn’t need to be part of Invictus (but it could be), any team sport participation is what we are looking for and we are genuinely grateful for each person’s input.

If you are interested in participating, please email Clare Pope popec3@lsbu.ac.uk and you will be emailed a Participant Information sheet and a consent form to sign. Once that’s done we will arrange a focus group at a time to suit- because its online we can do days/evenings/ weekends. We have full ethics approval from London South Bank University for focus groups or an individual online interview if preferred.